The by-election in three Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka is an acid test for the coalition Government of the Congress and the JD(S) led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
The byelection announced by the Election Commission to be held on November 3 is seen as an indication of political wind ahead of the 2019 general elections. So much so the fragile coalition is testing the waters.
Even though all the political parties are questioning the wisdom in declaring byelections in three Lok Sabha constituencies just a few months ahead of general elections in 2019, it is obvious it is going to have an impact on the political situation in the State.
Kumaraswamy (JD-S) who took the mantle with just over 30 seats with the help of Congress with 77 seats defeating the BJP with 104 seats in the 2018 Assembly polls has to prove his political acumen to keep his relationship with the Congress, a house terribly divided over the decision of the high command to align with the JD(S).
Bypoll for Ramanagara and Jamakhandi assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats of Ballari, Mandya and Shivamogga will be held on November 3. Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat had fallen vacant due to the resignation of BJP leader, Yeddyurappa, Sriramulu(BJP) had resigned his Ballari seat, while Mandya seat had been vacated by JD(S) leader, CS Puttaraju, after getting elected to the assembly.
The bypoll to assembly seats of Jamakhandi and Ramanagara is necessitated due to the death of Jamakhandi MLA, Siddu Nyam Gowda, and retention of Channapatna seat by Chief Minister, H D Kumaraswamy, who had registered victories from two seats.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, Dinesh Gundu Rao felt there was no need to hold by elections for vacant Lok Sabha seats. Speaking at a press conference he said that election for Lok Sabha seats could have been held during the general election itself. However he said the issue of having pact with JD(S) for this election has not yet been discussed.
Senior BJP leader and former Minister S Sureshkumar in a face book post questioned the need for the by elections ahead of 2019 polls within three or four months.
After the breakup of BSP from the Mahaghatbhandhan senior Congress leader and Dalit leader from Karnataka Mallikharjuna Kharge called for "like-minded parties" to come together to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the impending elections.
It was just three months back at the swearing in ceremony of Kumaraswamy many netas showed unity by holding hands which include Mayawati of BSP and others.
But it is politically intriguing that whether Devegowda will have a pre poll alliance with the Congress or wil he go alone. However many Congress leaders within the party are not happy to go with the JDs which is always seen as anti-Congress party.
Meanwhile Senior Congress leader and Local Bodies Minister in the Karnataka Government, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has shown the red flag against the leadership has drawn flak for skipping five Cabinet meetings in a row despite holding a key portfolio.
The Minister has offered a startling reason for his absence: "I will not attend the meetings till God answers my prayers." According to reports, Jarkiholi, along with his younger brother and MLA Satish Jarkiholi, are upset with the Congress' high command.
According to BJP insiders Yeddyurappa is planning to field his son BY Raghavendra from Shivamogga parliamentary seat.
Raghavendra had vacated the Shikaripura seat for his father in 2018 assembly polls. Congress is expected to filed former minister Kagodu Thimmappa or Kimmane Rathnakara.
In Mandya, JD(S) is considering IRS officer Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda or Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Gowda.
The by-elections have become family affair and it set the direction and mood of the people for the 2019 general polls. The elected candidates will have only three to four months and parties are questioning the need for the by elections.
According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Kumar With the announcement of by-elections in three parliamentary and two Assembly constituencies, the model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect.
He said Measures are being put in place to ensure it is not violated by political parties, candidates, bureaucrats and the media.